Record numbers for "Foot in the Door" Fair

A record number of employers attended the University of Illinois Springfield Career Development Center’s “Foot in the Door” Fair on September 1, 2011. More than 80 businesses and groups offering full and part-time jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities took part.

“Our attendance levels keep going up and up every year and that just shows that our students are very, very motivated. They know what they need to do in order to be prepared and competitive when they graduate,” said Tammy Craig, director of the UIS Career Development Center.

Senior Psychology Major Kayla Long came to the fair looking for a part-time job in childcare or education. She was also looking for a job for her husband, who recently graduated from college.

“It is so hard to find a job in this economy,” said Long. “It’s just very stressful, so to have everything kind of all set up in one location is really, really nice.”

Other students, like Masters of Public Administration major Anthony Raffety, are also feeling the impact of a down economy.

“It’s nice to be able to actually talk to someone and not just go online and fill out an application and not hear from them again,” said Raffety.

While some students came to the fair looking for paid work, others like Rashonda Williams, were looking for an internship.

“I’ve gotten a few contacts and did some networking, so I think I’ll definitely be successful after leaving this fair,” said Williams, a senior Social Work major.

Craig encourages students to take advantage of internships because they can lead to better opportunities.

“It’s the best way to get experience, so you can get a paid position. It’s also a way for you to really explore what your areas of interest are,” said Craig.